Zimbabwe whites in UK passports rip-off

They are paying more than ten times the official rate for the privilege of resuming their British nationality.

The official exchange rate is 85 Zimbabwe dollars to the pound, but the black market rate is nearly 1,000 Zimbabwe dollars a pound.

Far from denying the allegations, the Foreign Office confirmed it was using the unofficial rate so as to 'maximise income' from its Zimbabwe consular office.

Many white Zimbabweans renounced their British citizenship after Mugabe came to power - under pressure from his regime.

But as the brutality against them intensifies, many now hope to return to Britain.

Instead of helping, the Foreign Office is placing fresh obstacles in their way.

A spokesman defended the move, saying the Government was obliged to recover all its costs worldwide. Last year consular and visa operations in Harare cost the taxpayer £400,000.

'In view of our obligations to Parliament, the Government therefore decided to move to full cost recovery with effect from June 24. This involves using the parallel exchange rate,' he said.

'The High Commission's legal advisers have confirmed that it is legal to do so.'

The admission will reinforce suspicions that the Government is making little attempt to ease the passage of white farmers who have been forced off their land.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram denounced the move as 'totally unacceptable'. In a letter to Tony Blair he protested that the policy would 'play into Robert Mugabe's hands'.

Mr Ancram said that, under the British Nationality Act 1981, the Home Secretary had the power to reregister former nationals as British citizens.

He said many Zimbabweans were 'trying desperately to stay on the right side of law, to avoid the unwanted attention of Mugabe and his policemen'.

'To force people to use black market pricing would play into Robert Mugabe's hands.'

Mr Ancram also urged the Government to use the Earth Summit in Johannesburg later this month to assemble an international coalition to put pressure on Mugabe to hold fresh elections under international supervision.